William m



(No Model.)

W. M. PIPER.

BREAST GHAIN.

' Patented Feb. 2'7, 1894.

mTNEssEs v INV ENTQ R UNITED STATES WILLIAM M. PIPER, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN OR TO THE BAKER CHAIN AND WAGON IRON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF

SAME PLACE.

BREAST-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,359, dated February 27, 1894.

Application filed May 12, 1893. Serial No. 473,925 (NomodeL) To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. PIPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State 'of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered new and useful Improvements in Breast- Chains, of which the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings which make part of this specification, Figure 1, is a perspective of two hames, pole and chains by which they are connected; Fig. 2, a detail side elevation of the breast chains, showing a modified snap and swinging chains for connecting same to ring on breast chains. Fig. 3, is a detail side elevation of snap seen in Fig. 1.

My invention generally stated relates to an improvement in the key used in breast chains of harness for connecting the breast chain with the ring on the hame; also to the breast chains themselves; and finally to the means for connecting said snap to the breast chain.

Heretofore there have been several methods of harnessing a double team to aswinging pole. The most usual way has been by using a breast chain with a straight key swiveled at its center, on each end of the breast chain. These straight keys are inserted in the rings on the harness, leaving the breast chain hang ing in a swinging 100p. On said loop slides a loose ring, to which the pole chain is secured. These devices are objectionable for the following reasons: The key being swiveled at its center to the breast chain, will, when tension is applied, not lie down fiat against the collar, but one end will project and catch the reins, and the other push into the collar and tear the same. Again the friction of the ring sliding on the breast chain as the pole swings, is so great as to wear the links and ultimately destroy the chain. This latter disadvantage has been heretofore recognized and attempts have been made to overcome it by roller breast chains, but the expense of their manufacture has prohibited their general introduction.

I meet the above difficulties without seriously increasing the cost of the parts.

In the accompanying drawings, which make dinary key.

part of this specification, l, 1 are the collars; 2, 2, the hames and 3, 3, the hame rings.

4 is the pole; 5 the pole eye and 6, 6, the pole chains.

The above parts are the same as in the ordinary construction.

7 is a peculiar key, being swiveled at 8, out of center and the shorter arm 9 of the key turned down to prevent the rein from catching. The longer arm 10 of the key has the downwardly projecting lug 11, which falling inside the ring prevents the key slipping out of the hame ring by lateral motion, and requires a direct lift to release it.

12, 12, are two separate breast chains, instead of a continuous chain. Their lower ends are connected to a ring 13. To which also is connected the two short swinging chains 14, 14, (as seen in Fig. 2.) The lower ends of these chains are secured to the ends of a T snap '15. Or if preferred, for cheapness, the ring 13 may be made oval, as seen in Fig. 3, and one swing chain connects the ring to an ordinary snap 16.

It will be apparent from the above description, that when there is a pull on the breast chains, the key 7, being swiveled eccentrioally will lie down flat, and not injure the collar, while presenting no points to catch the rein. The motion of the pole will also be taken up by the sliding of the swing chains in the ring 13, and there will be no friction and wear on the breast chains bythe rubbing of a sliding ring over them. Again, as the pole motion is more perfectly neutralized by the ring 13 and the swinging chains than by the old ring on the breast chains,'it is not necessary to have so much slack as customary in the breast chains, and they may be shortened with corresponding economy. The oval ring with single swinging chain seen in Fig. 3, is also adapted to accomplish the same results, as the round ring and the two swinging chains of Fig. 2.

If desired the eccentric swiveling of the key may be retained, and either the lug 11, or the inward turning of the short'arm 9, or both features be omitted. My peculiar breast chains may also be used with the or- My breast chains may also be attached to a neck yoke instead of to pole chains.

The key While here described and illustrated as applicable to breast chains, has 5 manifestly a wide range of uses and I do not intend to restrict myself to this use alone.

Having described my invention, I c1ai1n The combination of a ring, a key for making connection with said ring, said key hav- [0 ing an inwardly projecting lug on the long arm of the key to prevent the key being displaced by lateral motion and a chain connected withv said key eccentrically of the length of said key, so that apull on the chain will cause the key to lie flat against the ring, 15 substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of May, A. D. 1893. WILLIAM M. PIPER. Witnesses:

WILLIAM BEAL, WILLIAM L. PIERCE. 

